The Shepherd X

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

— Psalm 27:1

Part I – The Shadow in the Cemetery

It was 3:00 AM.

Samuel Book and Mateo moved between broken gravestones, crossing the old, abandoned cemetery north of the city. Fog clung to the ground like a shroud. Branches stirred on their own beneath the pale moonlight.

"This won't be easy," Samuel said, checking his weapons. "He's protected."

"It doesn't matter how many follow him," Mateo replied. "If they're here… they'll pay."

Before them, in an open grave turned into an improvised hideout, stood Esteban Vargas , one of Lorenzo Marquez's most ruthless enforcers . Responsible for dozens of deaths, human trafficking, and blackmail.

And he wasn't alone.

Behind him, twenty armed men waited — knives in hand, guns ready, eyes filled with hatred.

"Welcome to hell," Esteban whispered, smiling.

Part II – The Battle of Souls

No long speeches. No empty threats. Only the clash of steel. The cry of the desperate. The fight of faith against death.

Samuel struck first. With his blade, he cut through throats, broke bones, dodged bullets. Precise. Lethal.

Mateo followed. Agile. Fast. Cold.

One of the gangsters tried to stab him from behind. Mateo turned before the blade could reach him. Drove his own into the man's chest and whispered:

"Confess."

The man mumbled something inaudible. Mateo fired anyway.

One by one, the men fell. Screams mixed with short prayers. Blades gleamed under the moon. Bodies dropped onto ancient tombstones.

Until only Esteban remained.

Wounded. Bleeding. Shaking.

"Cursed madmen," he whispered. "Lorenzo will find you. And he'll take everything."

Samuel stared at him. His eyes were dark wells.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation," he recited. "Whom shall I fear?"

Esteban laughed through bloodied teeth.

"They'll find you. And when they do… your church will burn. Your followers will die. Your name will be forgotten."

A long silence followed.

Samuel closed his eyes. Took a deep breath.

"Confess Jesus Christ as your Savior," he ordered. "Or I send you straight to hell."

Esteban swallowed hard. He did.

"I do! Jesus is my Lord!"

Samuel looked at him.

"Then… rest in peace."

He pulled the trigger.

Part III – The Weight of War

After killing Esteban, Samuel carved the verse into the wall of the nearby mausoleum:

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow and death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me."

— Psalm 23:4

Mateo watched him. His breathing was heavy. His hands trembled — not from fear… but from something else.

"I've never felt it like this before," Mateo said. "So clean. So fast."

Samuel looked at him.

"This shouldn't excite you. It should weigh on you."

Mateo lowered his gaze.

"It does… but it also brings me peace."

Samuel closed his eyes.

Was that right?

Or was he already losing his disciple?

Part IV – The Warning That Remains

The next day, Rebecca received an anonymous call. A distorted voice spoke:

"The Pastor won't stop. And neither will Lorenzo. You don't know who's coming next."

The line cut out.

Rebecca looked at Lucas.

"Someone knows more than we thought."

Lucas nodded slowly.

"And if Lorenzo doesn't know yet… he will soon."

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

— Matthew 5:8